BINGERHoward Walker, Staff Reporter
LAY MAGISTRATES are up in arms against the National Commercial Bank (NCB) for refusing to accept character references from Justices of the Peace (JPs).
"The NCB is out of order to take such a decision," said Leslie Bennett, a JP whose character testimonial for someone trying to open a savings account was rejected by the Harbour View branch.
"I feel very, very disappointed and let down," said Mr. Bennett. "I have in my office, my framed appointment from the Governor-General."
According to Mr. Bennett, it's a backward step by NCB and it's disrespectful. "The JP system in Jamaica is a legal system by the Government. If one JP steps out of bounds, then he should be reported to the Custos of the parish and disciplinary action is taken," he said.
Percival Chin, manager at the Harbour View NCB branch confirmed the policy of not using character references from JPs.
"It is a fact. In providing information to open an account, we ask for other references apart from the JP," he said.
Courtney Campbell, general manager at the head office, said the bank was not discriminating against JPs. "We have the utmost respect for them." He said the company was concerned, however, over the new techniques being used to forge documents, as the reason for his company's decision to implement this policy since April of this year.
"The fraudsters are very creative. What they are doing is forging or making JPs stamps," he said.
According to Mr. Campbell, because they are forging stamps, it's not the best way to confirm someone's identity. Therefore NCB would only be using JPs whose signatures were on file.
President of the Lay Magistrates Association, Karl Binger, has described the bank's action as "very unfortunate".
"The association members are very, very upset and concerned about the situation. To use a broad brush is unfair, because JPs work in the banks too," he said.
According to Mr. Binger, the action was a serious indictment on the JPs who are from all walks of life in Jamaica. "If everybody took a decision like that and use a broad brush, what would become of the society?" he asked.
A check by The Sunday Gleaner at several financial institutions last week, revealed that JPs character references were still being accepted by them.
"This is a very strange decision especially since the head of their bank was very outright in praise of JPs at our luncheon," Mr. Binger said.
He was referring to a speech made by Aubyn Hill, NCB Group managing director, at a Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica's Awards Banquet in July of this year.
In his speech, Mr. Hill said the NCB depended on "You as JPs across the country to sign documents that authenticate transactions and confirm that individuals are who they say they are and have the work experience or character that they purport to have."
Recently, Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe, while addressing JPs at a function, was reported as saying that while many JPs had lived up to expectations of the commission, the conduct of others was not consistent with the esteem of the offices.
"As a group, you need to ensure that bad apples are flushed out and dumped before they begin to affect the good apples and bring shame and dishonour to this noble and lofty institution," he told members of the association.
In March 2002, the government said it would be spending a minimum of $6 billion to acquire official seals for lay magistrates to bring about uniformity and transparancy to the activities of the JPs.
But 18 months have elapsed and the JPs have not receive their seals that were promised to them. "We have not receive them," said Mr Binger.
